DOT plan deserves a fair hearing

Published 7:34 pm, Thursday, March 26, 2015

I was disappointed to read your March 22, 2015, article, "Critics: DOT outsourcing plan ripe for conflicts of interest" that contained significant misinformation about the Connecticut DOT's plans for implementing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's transportation program and the state's use of consultants at the DOT.

The legislation that authorized alternate project delivery methods like design-build and construction manager at risk was not the result of reforms after the Rowland administration scandals. These methods have been used by most other state transportation departments for years and have been vetted by the Federal Highway Administration. The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services has been using them successfully for years.

The consultant community supports Malloy's transportation initiative. Our state's infrastructure needs immediate attention. Ten percent of our state's bridges are structurally deficient and 25 percent are functionally obsolete. Our clogged roads and rail system are choking our economy. The Governor's ramp-up plan has more than enough work for both state employees and consultants. His budget includes a 10 percent increase in the DOT's budget, which includes more staff for the DOT.

Using consultants offers the DOT access to engineering expertise and capacity that doesn't presently exist within the department. As the mix of rail, road, bridge and port projects move from planning to design to construction, the DOT's most important challenge will be managing those projects, not trying to do all the work in house.

As much as anyone else, consultants want a DOT that is fair and devoid of political favoritism. The DOT should serve the people of Connecticut and not be the plaything of politicians or state employee unions.